Cauterets June 2024

 













Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Head-Spinning Choices

Image
 Dear friends, Trep-ticipidation about these three months abroad entailed the possibility of physical risks (injury, assault/theft), but I am over that and keeping a bit vigilant. I knew I would not feel lonely because I reach out for meeting new and old friends when I am traveling solo,  and I have companionship for some part of the next 4 days.  What surprises me now that I am here in Paris is an intimidating number of things I could do; I'm feeling a bit paralyzed about which to choose.  But I do like being spontaneous, so I'll let go of that worry right now. April 30:   RER B and Metro Line1  to my lodging place near St. Paul-St. Louis Church, in the Marais. Once unpacked, I walked to an excellent vegan bakery in the Quartier Latin beyond the Île de la Cité. Here is my view from breakfast May 1.  The painting partially seen in the mirror is by Rod Stein, my in-law family connection in Paris, and a wonderful host he is. May 1, Global Workers' D...
Read more

Versailles!!!!

Image
My understanding of history is superficial at best.  It seemed to me that in French classes I'd heard that Louis XIV built Versalles out of competitiveness after he'd seen his finance minister Fouquet's Estate with a magnificent gardens, Vaux-le-Vicomte.  Perhaps the machinations of Colbert to bring about Fouquet's downfall were more a source of this inaccuracy ( https://vaux-le-vicomte.com/decouvrir/lhistoire/nicolas-fouquet/ )... My Paris family contact, well-read in French history, said the move of Louis XIV from Paris to Versailles was first a matter of security after a revolt, "La Fronde", to get out of Paris, out of the Louvre--and Louis XIV had fond childhood memories  spending time at the   Versailles   hunting Lodge (oldest part of the current palace) of his father Louis XIII. From the time Louis XIV moved there until his death in 1715, the entire place was a construction site with marble dust and scaffolding, carpenters, painters everywhere, not fini...
Read more

Fès, Morocco First Eve & Day--The prophet Mohammed said those who would be beside him in paradise

Image
 ...would be those with the best upbringing, those who show care for their fellows…nothing was said about practicing religion...quoted by our medina guide Hassan,  a descendant of Moulay Idriss II, founder in 9th century of Fez, due to its rich water resources of melted snow from the mountains.  Hassan was born in the Medina, and has been a guide all his life.  Tonight he'll vote in the country's legislative elections.  Undefatigable, he insisted we see as much as possible due to how far we'd traveled, and nearly killed us by extending the 3 hour tour into more than 4. Backing up to arrival highlight: Wonderful modern Fez Saiss Airport near sunset where Pat & I arrived 9/22/2026; going through customs was a breeze, many agents, short lines, but our agent was the slowest, echoing the air traffic delays we'd suffered on and off all day.         At the airport Mohammed met us and drove us in a roundabout way to the medina gate near our ...
Read more